Trunk.



No. 783,180. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

- H. DAVIS.

TRUNK.

nrmonmx FILED uov. as, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 783,180. PA TENTED FEB. 21, 1905. H. DAVIS.

TRUNK.

APPLIOATIOH rmm nov. 26, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

N .Q f N 'lmlttmisaes s I AQ A, B? i W attorney R Inventor UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT O ErcE.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,180, dated February 21, 1905. Application filed November 26, 1904. Serial No. 234,368.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN DAvIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to wardrobe-trunks; and it has for one of its objects to provide a wardrobe-trunk embodying a top which is adapted when raised to serve as an upright receptacle for garments and is so shaped as to better accommodate garments which are of a greater thickness at their upper than at their lower portions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a wardrobe-trunk having a top which is adapted when raised to serve'as an upright receptacle for garments and also having means for closing the spaces between its body and the ends of the side walls of the top when the latter is raised.

Another object is the provision of a wardrobe-trunk having a top adapted when raised to serve as an upright receptacle for garments and also having means whereby said upright receptacle may be closed and locked with a view of preventing unauthorized removal of garments therefrom and Still another object is the provision, in connection with the upright rece ptacle, of clothessuspending means adjustable outwardly and inwardly, the said means being drawn outwardly to facilitate the removal of pieces of clothes or garments from the receptacle and being pushed back into the receptacle to better retain the garments therein.

Other advantageous features of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trunk constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention as the same appears when open. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail broken section taken through the body and the top of the trunk in a plane at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section taken in the same plane as Fig. 2 and illustrating the slide of the garment-suspending means as drawn partly outward. Fig. '5 is a detail section illustrating the relative arrangement of the false side walls of the body and the top when the latter is in its closed position. enlarged section taken in the plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner in which the closure-wall of the top or upright receptacle is locked to said top or receptacle so as to prevent the surreptitious removal of garments therefrom. Fig. 7 is a detail transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention, hereinafter referred to in detail.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 thereof, A is the body of my novel trunk, which may be made of any material compatible with the purposes of my invention andmay be reinforced and strengthened by any suitable means. The said body comprises an end wall a; a back wall I) of greater height than the end wall a in about the proportion illustrated; side walls 0, the upper edges of which are inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the wall a to the points d and from the said points 611 to the back or rear end 5 are horizontal, as indicated by a, and false side wallsf, which extend upwardly from and are fixed with respect to the walls 0 and are disposed in vertical planes parallel to and between the vertical planes of the outer sides of the walls 0, as illustrated. Apart from the features just mentioned the body A may be of any construction compatible with the purposes of my present inventioni. a, it may be provided with a hinged cover 0, such as shown in Fig. 2-and may be also provided with any other desirable appurtenances. Bis the top or longclothes holder of the trunk. This latter is connected to the upper portion of the rear end wall 6 in a hinged manner, and the hinges [L are preferably of such construction as to prevent the movement of the top beyond the upright position. (Shown in Figs. 1 to 3.) The said top B comprises a main wall is, an end Wall Z, disposed at right angles to the main Fig. 6 is a detail wall, and side walls m, disposed in vertical planes parallel to and outside the vertical planes of the false side wallsfof the body A, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. readily observed by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the side walls of the top B are gradually diminished in width from their ends adjacent to the end wall Zto their opposite ends, and from this it follows that when the top is in a raised position it will afford an upright recep-. tacle the upper portion of which is of a greater thickness than its lower portion. This will be appreciated as an important advantage when it is remembered that many garments, such as coats, are of a greater thickness at their upper than at their lower portions and that because of its formation the top will receive and hold in a suspended position a larger number of garments than an ordinary topft'. a top having side walls of even width throughout their length. It will also be observed that because of the top B being shaped as illustrated and described the said top when closed will in connection with the body A form a flat-top rectangular trunk, which is always preferable in storage and shipment to a trunk of any other shape. Among the garments which may be suspend ed in the top B are trousers and ladies skirts. These latter are of such a length that they extend below the top B when the latter is in its raised position, and for this reason 1 provide in the body A a pocket or compartment O, which has for its purpose to receive the lower portions of trousers, skirts, and similar long garments, with a view of preventing the lower portions of such garments from being crushed or pressed out of shape by articles carried in the remainder of the body A, It will also be observed that when the trunk is closed and when the top B is raised and lowered the pocket 0 will retain the lower portions of the long garments in proper position relative to said top B. D D are guideways fixed at the inner sides of the side walls m of the top B adjacent to the end Wall Z thereof. E is a slide movable outwardly and inwardly in the guides D and having a central bar 1). F is a follower hung through the medium of a hook I from the bar 1), and G G are garment-hangers connected, through the medium of similar hooks q, to the bar p. I/Vhen the slide E is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 relative to the top B, it will be observed'that the wall Z of the top will effectually prevent disengagement of the hooks g from the bar p and disconnection of the follower F and hangers G from the slide E. When, however, the frame or slide E is drawn outwardly from the top B, the hooks of the follower and garment-hangers may be readily lifted off the bar 1). This will be better appreciated by reference to Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings, and it will be noted that the said provision permits of garments being quickly As will be and easily placed in and removed from the top B. Connected to the side walls of the top B are straps H, which have their ends adjustably connected together in front of the follower F. These straps have for their purpose to press and hold the follower against the garments, and thereby retain the garments in a compact mass and in proper relation in the top. 1, Figs. 1 and 2, is a wall designed to be employed to close the top B when the latter is in an upright position, with a view of preventing the unauthorized removal of garments from the said top B. The said wall I preferably comprises a section 1", hinged to the body A, preferably at the upper edge of the transverse wall .9, and a section t, hinged to the outer or swinging edge of the wall or section 1'. When the wall I is not in use, as when the trunk is closed, it is swung down on the body A and its section 2, is superposed on the section 9'. From this it follows that the wall 1 will take up but a minimum amount of space in the closed trunk, which is an important advantage. When, however, the top B of the trunk is raised to an upright position and it is desired to close said top, the same may be readily accomplished by raising the wall I to the position shown in Fig. 2 and securing it in such position through the medium of locks J, which have bolts w, Fig. 6, designed to engage keepers to at the inner sides of the side walls m of the top B. In the position last stated it will be observed that the wall 1 will not only prevent the unauthorized removal of garments from the top B, but will also effectually exclude dust and dirt from the interior of the top, which is obviously an important advantage.

In the practical use of my novel trunk the same is closed by swinging the top B down on the body A and securing the top in the lastmentioned position through the medium of a lock or other means. When the trunk arrives at its destination, it is placed with its end wall I) against the wall of an apartment and the topB is raised to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With this done it will be observed that the top B in connection with the body A will constitute a wardrobe, and one in which garments are held in such manner as to prevent crushing thereof and from which the hangers bearing the garments may be removed with great facility. It will also be noticed that the hangers bearing garments may be replaced in the top B with the same facility; but while this is so there is absolutely no liability of the-hangers being casually disconnected from the slide E either when the trunk is opened or closed. If it be desired to leave the top B in an upright position and yet prevent access being gained to the interior of the top by unauthorized persons, the same may be accomplished by securing the wall I in the position shown in Fig. 2 through the medium of the means before described. In this connection it will be observed that when the top B is in its raised position the false side walls 7 of the body A will entirely close the spaces between the side walls 0 of the body and the side walls m of the top. This will not only render the trunk neat in appearance when the top B is raised, but will assist in excluding dust from the interior of the top and will also assist in frustrating surreptitious efforts to remove garments from the top B when the closure-wall I is in use. In addition to closing the top B and excluding dust and dirt therefrom the wall I serves when secured in the position shown in Fig. 2 to hold the top B against casual downward movement. When the top B is in its raised position, it will be observed that the upper portions of coats,

.which are of a greater thickness than the lower portions thereof, will be accommodated in the upper comparatively thick portion of the top, while long garments, such trousers.

and ladies skirts,.will depend into and be retained in a neat condition in the pocket or compartment C. It will also be observed that the garments will rest in the positions stated relative to the body A and the top B when the trunk-is closed and while the top is being opened and closed.

The embodiment of my invention shown in F igs; 1 to 7 is adapted to rest close against the wall of an apartment, so as take up but a minimum amount of space and is preferable for that reason. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 is less expensive in construction than the embodiment lirst mentioned and differs from the said first-mentioned embodiment in that its body A has no false side walls and its top B comprises in addition to the walll and the walls on an end wall 6. The said wall If is hinged to the wall 7) of the body A and is adapted when the top B is raised to an upright position to extend rearwardly at right angles to the wall 6. When the top B of the modified embodiment is in its upright position, it will be observed that the long garments in the said top will have to clear the wall t in order to depend into the pocket or compartment C, and in doing this the garments will obviously be assisted by the comparatively thick upper portion of the top B. With the exception of the features which I have just mentioned in detail the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8 may be and preferably is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination of a clothes-holder having an end wall, a slide guided in the holder, adjacent to the end wall thereof, and movable outwardly and inwardly, relative to the holder, garment-hangers, and hooks on the garmenthangers, engaging the slide and having bights resting between the slide and said end wall of the holder, and also having end portions of a greater length than the distance between the slide and the end wall of the holder.

2. In a trunk, the combination of a body, a top hinged to one end of the body and comprising a main wall, side walls and an end wall, a slide guided in the top, adjacent to the end wall thereof, and movable outwardly and inwardly, relative to the top, when the top is in a raised position, garment-hangers, and hooks on the garment-hangers, engaging the slide and having bights resting between the slide and said end wall of the top and also having end portions of a greater length than the distance between the slide and the end wall of the top.

' 3. In a trunk, the combination of a body, a top hinged to one end of the body and comprising a main wall, side walls and an end wall, means in the top adjacent to said end wall there of, whereby garments may be suspended in the top, and a closure-wall hingedto the body, adjacent to the hinged end of the top, and comprising sections connected together in a hinged manner, and means carried by the outer section for locking said section to the side walls of the top.

4:. In a trunk, the combination with a body having the upper edges of its side walls inclined, and also having false side walls extending upwardly from the higher portions of its side walls and disposed in planes between those of the outer sides of the side walls and further having a space in its interior adjacent to its higher end; of a top hinged to the higher end of the body and-comprising a main wall, an end wall, and side walls gradually diminished in width as they recede from the end wall; the said side walls being disposed in planes parallel to and outside of those of the false side walls of the body, and suitable means in the upper portion of the top, whereby garments may be suspended therein.

5. In a trunk, the combination with a body having side walls and false side walls extending upwardly from the side walls adjacent to one of its ends and disposed in planes between those of the outer sides of the side walls and also having a space in its interior at the said end thereof; of a top hinged to the higher end of the body and comprising a main wall, an end wall and side walls; the latter being disposed in planes parallel to and outside of those of the false side walls of the body, and suitable means in the upper portion of the top whereby garments may be suspended therein.

6. In a trunk, the combination with a body having the upper edges of its side walls inclined and also having a space in its interior adjacent to its higher end; of a top hinged to the higher end of the body and comprising a main wall, an end wall, and side walls gradually diminished in width as they recede from the end wall, whereby when the top is, raised the upper portion of the top is of a greater thickness than the lower portion thereof, means in the upper portion of the top, Whereby garments may be suspended therein, and

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing W1t- IO nesses.

HERMAN DAVIS.

Witnesses:

C. W. FOWLER, THOMAS E. TURPIN. 

